Paraty from Rio de Janeiro

At a glance

Why go to Paraty

Paraty is the cultural half of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Paraty and Ilha Grande: Culture and Biodiversity”, inscribed in 2019. The site has six parts: the historic center of Paraty and Morro da Vila Velha, where the remains of the Defensor Perpétuo fort stand, plus four protected areas: Serra da Bocaina National Park, the Cairuçu Environmental Protection Area, Ilha Grande State Park and the Praia do Sul Biological Reserve.

UNESCO also notes the traditional Quilombola, Guarani and Caiçara communities that live in the area. In colonial times Paraty was the end point of the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Route), the road that brought gold down to the coast to be shipped to Europe; part of that route now lies inside Serra da Bocaina National Park.

What people come for is simple: stone streets and old churches in the center, a boat day on the bay, the beaches and waterfalls around town.

How to get from Rio to Paraty

You have two practical options.

• Bus. Costa Verde Transportes lists 12 departures a day from Rodoviária Novo Rio to Paraty, the first at 04:00 and the last at 21:00. You get to the bus station in Rio on your own and take a taxi to your hotel at the other end.
• Private transfer. A driver picks you up at your hotel in Rio or at the airport and takes you to the door in Paraty, with stops on the way if you want them. This is what we book for most couples and families, and it is easy to add a night on Ilha Grande on the way. If you are landing in Rio, see Rio airport transfer.

How long to stay

One day is not enough: you spend most of it on the road. With one night you see the historic center and take a short boat trip. With two you add a full day on the bay or a waterfall outside town, and you are not rushing back.

Rio, Ilha Grande and Paraty in one trip

The piers for Ilha Grande lie along the same coast road as Paraty, so many travelers do Rio, two nights on the island and two in Paraty, then return to Rio or fly out. We arrange the transfers, the boat and the rooms as one plan: see Ilha Grande from Rio. Past Paraty the road continues into São Paulo state, toward Ubatuba and Ilhabela: Ilhabela and Ubatuba.

What we arrange

• A private transfer from Rio or the airport, and back or onward.
• A room in the historic center or by the sea, to your budget.
• A walk through the old town with a guide who speaks your language.
• A boat trip on the bay, private or shared.
• One contact for the whole trip: our team answers in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Our fee is already included in the price. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. For longer plans across Rio and the coast, see private trips in Rio.

Cancellation and changes

A one-day service can be cancelled at no cost up to 48 hours before, a trip with nights up to 14 days before. You can move the date once at no cost with 48 hours’ notice if the provider has another date. If a provider lets you down, we find a replacement or refund your deposit in full. If weather cancels the boat, you get a new date or a full refund of the deposit.

What to tell us in your request

• Your dates and how many nights you have
• How many travelers, and the ages of any children
• Where we pick you up and where you go next
• Whether you want to add Ilha Grande
• The kind of room you want and your budget
• What interests you: old town, boat, beaches, waterfalls
• The language of your guide

Check entry requirements on official websites before you travel.